The Unpardonable Sin

Jesus taught that there was one unpardonable sin. All three of the synoptic gospels report on this teaching of Jesus. It is important and needs to be understood.

What exactly is the unpardonable sin? Are some people already beyond hope because they have committed this sin? What should we be telling people?

Jesus' Priorities

In the Gospels we not only have things that Jesus said, but accounts of what Jesus did.  This helps us to have a clear picture of what kind of person he was and what his priorities were.

If Jesus thought certain things were important, then we should see them as important as well. So what were Jesus' priorities?

Sermon In A Sack - Bread

What is it that motivates you in life? What are you pursuing?

We need to eat to live, but it is also possible to live to eat. Sometimes we are consumed with the desire to fulfill our appetites.

Sometimes God lets us get hungry to teach us something about him and about ourselves. We need to learn those lessons and live accordingly.

Jesus Gets Angry

Even people who do not consider themselves to be Christians usually have a positive impression of Jesus. They think that whoever he was, he was a nice person. He must have been a good teacher and compassionate toward people in their needs.

It doesn't occur to them that Jesus might get angry. But he did. And whatever made Jesus angry must be something serious.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier...

The presidential race is big news - debates, attack ads, image control and high priced advisors.

Praise God that the selection of godly leaders for the church is not this kind of circus. Our goal is to glorify God by choosing as He would choose. We need to be thoughtful and careful in who we select for church leadership.

Traditions

The Pharisees were constantly on Jesus' case for one thing or another. In Mark's gospel they attack him for claiming to forgive sins and later for eating with tax collectors and sinners. Now they are attacking his disciples for not keeping the traditions of the jewish community.

In each case, Jesus answers these attacks with displays of his divine power and wisdom. He shows them how their traditions are inadequate and sometimes at cross purposes with God's priorities.

We all live by traditions. We should think long and hard about whether our traditions are interfering or helping with our obedience to Christ.

Hospital For Sinners

The Pharisees were very concerned about righteousness. They would never do anything that would defile them and they were outraged when Jesus gathered to eat with tax collectors and sinners. How could he do such a thing?

Jesus' reply was a rebuke - "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came, not to call the righteous, but sinners."

It is possible for us to have a bad attitude toward sinners - when we are supposed to have Jesus' attitude toward them.